Ask about issues that interest you, and listen to what they say. Let them tell you about how things work, and what you could have done better.

Most people will love to be your free tutor.

3. Fulfill Your Current JobYour current job might be best place to start your career.

It is often very little that separates successful people from the average. But nothing comes free.

If you do your job well and fulfill your responsibilities, this is often the best way to start a new career.

Talk to your supervisor about things you can do. Suggest improvements. Offer your help when help is needed. In return ask for help to build a better career. It is often possible - right inside your own organization - especially if you have proved to be a valued employee.

One of the best ways to get serious information from your network is to regularly ask your contacts how they are, what they do, and what is new about their careers.

5. Identify Your Current JobYour current job should be identified, not assumed.

Make sure you don't work with tasks you assume are important. This is waste of time and talent.

When you start in a new job, talk to your superior about your priorities. If you are not sure about what is most important, then ask him. And ask him again. Often you will be surprised about the differences between what you assume, and what is really important.

6. Identify Your Next JobYour dream job must be identified.

Before you start planning your future career, be sure you have identified your dream job.

In your dream job, you will be doing all the things you enjoy, and none of the things you don�x378t enjoy. What kind of job would that be?

Do you like or dislike having responsibility for other employees. Do you like to work with technology or with people? Do you want to run your own business? Do you want to be an artist, a designer or a skilled engineer? A manager?

Tomorrow your dream job may show up right before your nose. Prepare for it with a professional CV and be ready to describe yourself as a valuable object to anyone that will try to recruit you.

If you dont know how to write a CV, or how to describe yourself, start learning it now.

8. Pick The Right ToolsPick the tools you can handle.

You can build your future career using a lot of different tools. Studying at W3Schools is easy. Taking a full master degree is more complicated.

You can add a lot to your career by studying books and tutorials (like the one you find at W3Schools). Doing short time courses with certification tests might add valuable weight to your CV. And dont forget: Your current job is often the most valuable source of building new skills.

Dont pick a tool that is too heavy for you to handle!

9. Realize Your DreamsPut your dreams into action.

Dont let a busy job kill your dreams. If you have higher goals, put them into action now.

If you have plans about taking more education, getting a better job, starting your own company or something else, you should not use your daily job as a "waiting station". Your daily job will get more and more busy, you will be caught up in the rat race, and you will burn up your energy.

If you have this energy, you should use it now, to realize your dreams.

Friday, 30 January 2015

There once was a happy monkey wandering the jungle, eating delicious fruit when hungry, and resting when tired. One day he came upon a house, where he saw a bowl of the most beautiful apples. He took one in each hand and ran back into the forest.

He sniffed the apples and smelled nothing. He tried to eat them, but hurt his teeth. They were made of wood, but they were beautiful, and when the other monkeys saw them, he held onto them even tighter.

He admired his new possessions proudly as he wandered the jungle. They glistened red in the sun, and seemed perfect to him. He became so attached to them, that he didn't even notice his hunger at first.

A fruit tree reminded him, but he felt the apples in his hands. He couldn't bear to set them down to reach for the fruit. In fact, he couldn't relax, either, if he was to defend his apples. A proud, but less happy monkey continued to walk along the forest trails.

The apples became heavier, and the poor little monkey thought about leaving them behind. He was tired, hungry, and he couldn't climb trees or collect fruit with his hands full. What if he just let go?

Letting go of such valuable things seemed crazy, but what else could he do? He was so tired. Seeing the next fruit tree, and smelling it's fruit was enough. He dropped the wooden apples and reached up for his meal. He was happy again.

Like that little monkey, we sometimes carry things that seem too valuable to let go. A man carries an image of himself as "productive" - carries it like a shiny wooden apple. But in reality, his busyness leaves him tired, and hungry for a better life.

Wednesday, 28 January 2015

First of all, congrats on the phone interview! These calls tend to make people nervous, but since the goal of most phone interviews is to get an in-person interview, just focus on what you would focus on normally in a face-to-face interview, with a few tweaks to allow for the phone element.

Pre-Interview

Clarify the details: Since you may not be in the same time zone as the interviewer (a common reason for phone interviews), be sure to clarify the time of the interview in both your time zone and the other, and confirm who is calling whom (i.e. "I'll expect your call at 11 AM PT / 2 PM ET. My number is… ").

Use notes to your advantage: The best part about a phone interview is that you can have your notes in front of you (and the interviewer can't see them). So have a copy of your resume, extensive bullet points about the experiences or skills you want to mention, and full list of questions written out ahead of time for use during the interview. You have the gift of invisibility-use it to your advantage!

Dress the part: This is more of a mental tactic than anything else—but dress up a little bit. Looking nice puts you in the right mindset to be professional.

Make sure all systems are go: Make sure you are in a quiet place with a charged phone and a glass of water. Call your mom or a friend beforehand from the room where you plan to have the interview, making sure they can hear you with no distractions. (Note: It might be worth it to run home to take the call from your apartment, rather than trying to find a spot to do it from your office.) Also, keep your phone charger handy, just in case the interview is going so well that your charge starts to run down.

Keep the end game in mind: Before phone and in-person interviews, I like to use this trick: Think of three characteristics you would like to portray during the interview (creative, analytical, polished, intelligent, interested, whatever!). Write those three attributes at the top of your notes, and as you glance down at them during the interview, you'll have a great reminder of how you want to present yourself.

During the Interview

Don't answer questions right away: Since you can't see the body language of the interviewer, wait a half-second before starting to answer any question. Sometimes, people ask questions and then keep talking, and if both you and the interviewer begin speaking at the same time, it can be awkward to figure out who should keep going.

Slow down: Speak slowly at all times, even a tad slower than you speak in real life. Phones can intensify the pace of your words.

Use your hands: It's okay to gesture while talking, even if no one can see you. Gesturing will make the call feel more like a regular conversation, which will normalize the situation and help to calm your nerves.

Post-Interview

Say thanks: Follow up with a thank you, just like you would in a face-to-face interview. And I also think it's nice, if an assistant set up the call, to send a quick note thanking him or her for helping facilitate the interview

Tuesday, 27 January 2015

By Junaid TahirEthical values are the treasure of each individual regardless of the financial status. However these values are put on stake when you are pushed by someone for specific immoral goals achievements. In this article, I shall cover the aspects which are to be considered when trapped in such circumstances. The article covers both professional and personal aspects.

First of all you need to ask yourself following questions in order to have thorough analysis of the situation:

1-Why you (and only you) are being asked/pushed to compromise?

2-What are the short term and long term personal consequences if you compromise?

3-Who is getting benefit out of it? Consider direct and indirect people involved.

4-What are the risks/impacts on the project/task if you compromise? A legal case?

5-What will happen if you don't compromise?

6-Can you consult some other person for advice?

7-Can you share the risks with other by involving other personnel/department on this task?

8-What does the company policy say? Are your actions in-line with your Job Descriptions?

Now that you have analyzed the situation, here are the guidelines which you need to consider for corrective and preventive actions:

1-Sometimes the matter is not really an ethical issue, it's just a difference of opinion so carefully understand on what you are being asked for. Sometimes you are doing a healthy compromise in the best interest of all stake holders (off course within your ethical values and in line with company policies)

2-If the matter is really critical, consider approaching the Fraud Management Team of your company. In some of the mature companies 'whistle blowing' or 'anonymous reporting' systems are set in place.

3-Seeking advice from your colleagues/close friends broadens your horizon and expose you to more options for consideration. Be careful whom you consider to seek advice. Ask the one who is honest and fair with you and would keep the secret in the long run.

4-Discuss the matter with your manager and document it, if possible. Make records for what you do, there is surely someone to ask later.

5-Define your principles to others quite often and show it time to time so that people know what type of person you are and what your ethical boundaries are. This is required to portray the traits of your personality so that others can develop a mental picture of you in their heads. This will prevent them approaching you for the wrong deeds.

6-Not every ethical issue is to be taken too much seriously, consequently, allowing it to steal your peace of mind. Every problem has several solutions. Keep it cool, stay mentally healthy, analyze the situation based on 8 points mentioned earlier in the post and then do the right act.

7-Sometimes a simple "No" helps. Just say so and put a full stop to the matter. Sometimes this is the most effective tool to use.

Religious approach to handle:

1-Have faith in God and do what your religion expects from you to do. Once done, leave it to God and He will turn the table for you. He is suffice for all your problems provided you have done the 'right'

2-Seek wisdom from God. Pray for the right path and He will guide you.

3-Whatever single deed you are doing is being recorded. You are answerable for what you have been doing during your life cycle. Good deeds result in good outcome not only in this world but also on the Day of Judgment; bad deeds bad results, here and hereafter! Be Honest and be fair. Do your self-audit quite often, in line with religion's principals.

4-Don't analyze the situation on political grounds which might divert your attention from the right path. Remember, Religion comes first. You should consider this filter for All of your problems. Anything which passes from this filter is the right thing to do.

Conclusion: Ethical Values (such as Truth, Honesty, Fairness, Transparency and self discipline) are unique treasure which you possess. Don't lose it at any cost. Your values are defining your character which is leading you towards your destiny. Sine you don't want to be a failure at the end of the day, so you need to stick to the humanitarian principles because the ultimate fact remains the same; 'As you sow, so shall you reap'. A Study confirms that the people who possess high ethical values are more happy than those who are engaged in fraudulent acts even if former earn less than the deceitful people. If you would like to read the types of Wealth, please visit HERE

Positive Self-Talk is a great tool for personal growth as well as for overcoming mood disorders. It can take the form of affirmations, internal dialogue, or prayer. You can choose the method that works best for you.The real trick is to learn to do it on a daily basis.

The use of affirmations became very popular in the 1980s with the help of You Can Heal Your Life, by author and publisher Louise L. Hay (whom I had the pleasure of meeting some years ago). Affirmations are short statements about how you want to improve or are improving yourself. A well-used one is “Every day, in every way, I am getting better and better!” This one has been around forever, but there are millions more like “I enjoy perfect health” or “I am overcoming my fears.” You can make up your own. Repeating these statements many times throughout the day will change the way you think and feel. Yes, it works and, no, you cannot just say affirmations and expect your life to get better, unless you take the actions that are necessary to accomplish your goals.

Another method of Positive Self-Talk is to have a conversation with yourself about your behavior. For example, if you’ve been avoiding things as a means of self-protection, you can tell yourself that you no longer need to protect yourself the way you’ve been doing and that you are safe in the world that you have created. You can remind yourself that you are now in control of your life. You are not a victim, and you have the strength to deal with any situation, even if it causes you some anxiety.

This kind of internal dialogue can serve to make you stronger, help you be more of the person you want to be, and give you greater confidence. The more you do it, the better you will feel. I’m not suggesting that every thought be focused on your own personal growth, but rather that you take some time, every day, to give yourself a good talking to. The effects are pretty quick and last as long as you continue the process.

Another positive internal dialogue is simply telling yourself that you are and have been more than okay over the long term and that whatever is vexing you at the moment will pass. Many times we get upset at temporary situations and don’t look at how we have prevailed in the past. When you recall what you have had to overcome, it will give you the power to believe in yourself again and get over your current hurtle.

Using Positive Self-Talk on a daily basis is something I could never do without. Regardless of what method you use, focusing on the positive is better than focusing on all the negative stuff that has happened to you or may be going on in the world.

While waiting to pick up a friend at the airport in Portland, Oregon, I had one of those life-changing experiences that you hear other people talk about — the kind that sneaks up on you unexpectedly. This one occurred a mere two feet away from me. Straining to locate my friend among the passengers deplaning through the jet way, I noticed a man coming toward me carrying two light bags. He stopped right next to me to greet his family.First he motioned to his youngest son (maybe six years old) as he laid down his bags. They gave each other a long, loving hug. As they separated enough to look in each other's face, I heard the father say, "It's so good to see you, son. I missed you so much!" His son smiled somewhat shyly, averted his eyes and replied softly, "Me, too, Dad!" Then the man stood up, gazed in the eyes of his oldest son (maybe nine or ten) and while cupping his son's face in his hands said, "You're already quite the young man. I love you very much, Zach!" They too hugged a most loving, tender hug.

While this was happening, a baby girl (perhaps one or one-and-a-half) was squirming excitedly in her mother's arms, never once taking her little eyes off the wonderful sight of her returning father. The man said, "Hi, baby girl!" as he gently took the child from her mother. He quickly kissed her face all over and then held her close to his chest while rocking her from side to side. The little girl instantly relaxed and simply laid her head on his shoulder, motionless in pure contentment.

After several moments, he handed his daughter to his oldest son and declared, "I've saved the best for last!" and proceeded to give his wife the longest, most passionate kiss I ever remember seeing. He gazed into her eyes for several seconds and then silently mouthed. "I love you so much!" They stared at each other's eyes, beaming big smiles at one another, while holding both hands.

For an instant they reminded me of newlyweds, but I knew by the age of their kids that they couldn't possibly be. I puzzled about it for a moment then realized how totally engrossed I was in the wonderful display of unconditional love not more than an arm's length away from me. I suddenly felt uncomfortable, as if I was invading something sacred, but was amazed to hear my own voice nervously ask, "Wow! How long have you two been married?

"Been together fourteen years total, married twelve of those." he replied, without breaking his gaze from his lovely wife's face. "Well then, how long have you been away?" I asked. The man finally turned and looked at me, still beaming his joyous smile. "Two whole days!"

Two days? I was stunned. By the intensity of the greeting, I had assumed he'd been gone for at least several weeks – if not months. I know my expression betrayed me.

I said almost offhandedly, hoping to end my intrusion with some semblance of grace (and to get back to searching for my friend), "I hope my marriage is still that passionate after twelve years!"The man suddenly stopped smiling.

He looked me straight in the eye, and with forcefulness that burned right into my soul, he told me something that left me a different person. He told me, "Don't hope, friend… decide!" Then he flashed me his wonderful smile again, shook my hand and said, "God bless!"

Monday, 26 January 2015

So many of us strive so hard for material success that you might think there was a clear relationship between wealth and happiness. The media and our governments encourage us to believe this, since they need us to keep earning and spending to boost economic growth. From school onwards, we’re taught that long term well-being stems from achievement and economic prosperity - from ‘getting on’ or ‘making it’, accumulating more and more wealth, achievement and success.

Consequently, it comes as a shock for many people to learn that there is no straightforward relationship between wealth and well-being. Once our basic material needs are satisfied (i.e. once we’re assured of regular food and adequate shelter and a basic degree of financial security), wealth only has a negligible effect on well-being. For example, studies have shown that, in general, lottery winners do not become significantly happier than they were before, and that even extremely rich people - such as billionaires - are not significantly happier than others. Studies have shown that American and British people are less contented now than they were 50 years ago, although their material wealth is much higher. On an international level, there does appear to some correlation between wealth and well-being, partly because there are many countries in the world where people’s basic material needs are not satisfied. But this correlation is not a straightforward one, since wealthier countries tend to be more politically stable, more peaceful and democratic, with less oppression and more freedom - all of which are themselves important factors in well-being.

So why do put so much effort into acquiring wealth and material goods? You could compare it to a man who keeps knocking at a door, even though he’s been told that the person he’s looking for isn’t at home. ‘But he must be in there!” he shouts, and barges in to explore the house. He storms out again, but returns to the house a couple of minutes later, to knock again. Seeking well-being through material success is just as irrational as this.

Well-Being through Giving

If anything, it appears that there is a relationship between non-materialism and well-being. While possessing wealth and material goods doesn’t lead to happiness, giving them away actually does. Generosity is strongly associated with well-being. For example, studies of people who practise volunteering have shown that they have better psychological and mental health and increased longevity. The benefits of volunteering have been found to be greater than taking up exercise, or attending religious services - in fact, even greater than giving up smoking. Another study found that, when people were given a sum of money, they gained more well-being if they spent it on other people, or gave it away, rather than spending it on themselves. This sense of well-being is more than just feeling good about ourselves - it comes from a powerful sense of connection to others, an empathic and compassionate transcendence of separateness, and of our own self-centredness.

In fact, paradoxically, another study has shown that this is one way in which money actually can bring happiness: if you give away the money you earn. This research - by Dunn, Gilbert and Wilson - also showed that money is more likely to bring happiness is you spend it on experiences, rather than material goods. (1) Another study (by Joseph Chancellor and Sonja Lyubomirsky) has suggested that consciously living a lifestyle of ‘strategic underconsumption’ (or thrift) can also lead to well-being. (2)

So if you really want enhance your well-being - and as long as your basic material needs are satisfied - don’t try to accumulate money in your bank account, and don’t treat yourself to material goods you don’t really need. Be more generous and altruistic - increase the amount of money you give to people in need, give more of your time to volunteering, or spend more time helping other people, or behaving more kindly to everyone around you. Ignore the ‘happiness means consumption’ messages we’re bombarded with by the media. A lifestyle of generosity and under-consumption may not suit the needs of economists and politicians - but it will certainly make us happier.

We would do well to heed the words of the American Indian, Ohiyesa, speaking of his Sioux people:

‘It was our belief that the love of possessions is a weakness to be overcome. Its appeal is to the material part, and if allowed its way, it will in time disturb one’s spiritual balance. Therefore, children must early learn the beauty of generosity. They are taught to give what they prize most, that they may taste the happiness of giving.’

Steve Taylor, Ph.D. is a senior lecturer in psychology at Leeds Beckett University, UK. He is the author of Back to Sanity